She was going blind when the hymn about turning your eyes upon Jesus came to her. Her husband left when the blindness became permanent. She lived to 97, writing music until nearly the end. Helen Howarth Lemmel was born in England in 1864 and came to the United States as a child. She was gifted musically from a young age and became a professional vocalist and music teacher, performing in choirs and giving voice lessons across her adult life. Music was not merely her faith expression — it was her livelihood. In 1918, her eyesight began failing seriously. The nature of the condition is not fully documented, but its trajectory was clear and devastating for someone whose professional life depended on reading music, teaching students, and moving confidently through the world. Around this period, she came across a gospel tract written by Lilias Trotter — a remarkable English missionary and artist who had herself turned away from a potentially legendary career in fine art to serve in North Africa. The tract was called "Focused." Inside it, Lemmel read a line that stopped her: "So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness." She went home. The hymn formed in her mind — both words and melody — with a speed and completeness she later described as something given rather than constructed. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." Her husband left her as her blindness became permanent. The accounts of this are sparse but consistent in the broader biographical record — the disability that cost her so much professionally also cost her her marriage. She kept writing. She produced over 500 hymns and songs across her lifetime, composing and dictating well into old age. She died in 1961 at 97 years old — having lived nearly a century beyond the moment the words first came to her in a failing eye's half-light. "We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen." — 2 Corinthians 4:18 #TurnYourEyesUponJesus #HelenLemmel #ChurchHistory

She was 50, she had failed to raise missionary funds, and she couldn't understand why God had closed the door. An old woman's prayer changed everything she thought the question was. Sarah Adelaide Pollard was a Bible teacher and aspiring missionary working in the late 19th and early 20th century United States. By 1902 she had spent considerable time and effort attempting to raise enough support to travel to Africa — a persistent calling she felt deeply but could not seem to bring to fruition. The funds did not come. Door after door closed. At 50 years old — an age when most women of her era would have considered a foreign mission simply beyond them — she was dealing not only with the practical failure of the fundraising but with the more profound disorientation of feeling strongly called to something God seemed to be actively preventing. She attended a prayer meeting during this period, feeling, by her own later account, discouraged and spiritually confused. During the meeting an elderly woman prayed. The prayer was simple and unhurried — the prayer of someone who had long since stopped arguing with God about outcomes. In the course of it, she said words that reached Pollard with unexpected force. The substance, as Pollard later recalled it, was this: "It's all right, Lord. It doesn't matter what You bring into our lives. Just have Your way with us." Not have my way. Not explain Your way. Just — have Your way. Pollard went home that night and sat at her desk. She wrote all four verses of "Have Thine Own Way, Lord" before sleeping — the entire hymn, words and verses complete, built on the potter and clay imagery of Jeremiah 18, the very image the old woman's prayer had called up: "Have Thine own way, Lord. Have Thine own way. Thou art the Potter, I am the clay." She never made it to Africa. The hymn traveled to every continent instead. Share this with someone whose plan has failed and who is trying to figure out if God's silence is a no or a not yet. "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay; you are the potter." — Isaiah 64:8 #HaveThineOwnWay #AdelaidePollard #ChurchHistory #LesserKnownHistory #HistoriaEcclesiae

He grew up in a pub and became a cabinet maker. He wrote one of the greatest hymns of faith walking to work. He didn't enter full-time ministry until he was 55. Edward Mote was born in 1797 in Cripplegate, London — in rooms above his parents' public house. He later described his upbringing in striking terms: his parents were not churchgoers and gave him no religious instruction whatsoever. By his own account, he entered adulthood knowing essentially nothing of God or faith. As a teenager, he was apprenticed to a cabinet maker and heard a sermon by a preacher named John Hyatt at Tottenham Court Road Chapel. That sermon broke something open in him, and his life changed entirely. He remained a cabinet maker for decades — a respected craftsman, devout in his private faith, but not a minister or church leader. In his spare time he wrote occasional verse and devotional poetry. One Sunday morning in the 1830s, he was walking through London to his workshop when words and music began forming in his mind without particular invitation. By the time he arrived, most of a hymn was already there: "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name." He worked through the day — wood and words simultaneously — finishing both the cabinet work and the hymn before evening. That same Sunday, he visited a friend whose wife was gravely ill. The family were searching for something to sing together. He pulled the paper from his coat pocket and they sang his morning's work at her bedside. He became a Baptist pastor at 55 years old — over three decades after his conversion, after a lifetime of faithful obscurity as a craftsman. He served Rehoboth Baptist Chapel in Horsham, Sussex for 26 years. When his congregation tried to transfer the title deeds of the church building to him as a gift, he refused. He said the church belonged to Jesus Christ and it would be wrong to put anyone else's name on it. He died in 1874. "On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand." #TheSolidRock #EdwardMote #ChurchHistory #LesserKnownHistory

In this episode of A Guy and His Bible, we explore the powerful story behind the Holy Club at Oxford and the spiritual journeys of Charles Wesley, John Wesley, and George Whitefield. What began as a pursuit of strict religious discipline revealed a deeper truth — salvation cannot be earned through works, self-denial, or perfection. https://youtu.be/Amisk9jRzoE Discover how Whitefield came to understand the life-changing message of being “born again” and how God’s grace transformed his heart forever. This study reminds us that salvation is not achieved by human effort but received as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ. 📖 Key Scripture: Ephesians 2:8–9 “God saved you by his grace when you believed…” Join us as we examine the difference between religion and a real relationship with Christ, and how true transformation comes only through the grace of God. Devotion used in this video https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007V69IO0?linkCode=ssc&tag=onamzpatr0ee0-20&creativeASIN=B007V69IO0&asc_item-id=amzn1.ideas.1X7V0XLGVWVXU&ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d_asin 🌐 Stay Connected – A Guy And His Bible Website: https://www.patrickryanlewis.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AGuyAndHisBible LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aguyandhisbible X (Twitter): https://x.com/aguyandhisbible TiTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aguyandhisbible allthingsforHim.pl@gmail.com Text: (681) 534-3585 Venmo / CashApp @PatrickRyanLewis Paypal: https://bit.ly/3TMgPRa Stripe: https://bit.ly/3TL5j8F Amazon Storefront https://www.amazon.com/shop/aguyandhisbible Amazon Wishlist https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/AAQACSNG7QKZ?ref_=wl_share https://youtu.be/Amisk9jRzoE #AGuyAndHisBible #GeorgeWhitefield #JohnWesley #CharlesWesley #BornAgain #ChristianHistory #Ephesians2 #FaithAlone #GraceOfGod #BibleStudy #ChurchHistory #Salvation #JesusChrist

Do you want to tell your Church's Story? 📖🎬✝️" Every Church has an amazing Story inside it... Yahweh Media & Christian Historical Society jointly present... 🎬 "Sabaiyin Kathai!" (The Church's Story!) A Training Workshop to document your Church's History as a Documentary Film! 📽️✝️ No Age Limit! 🙌 What will you learn? 💡 ✍️ During Training — Practically learn how to document a Church's story through hands-on filming! Guidance provided before and after the training to help you film your own Church! Let your Church's Story be known to the World! 🌍✝️ Share this with your Pastor! 🙏 Tag your Church Team! 🏷️ Register Now — Don't Wait! 📲 📧 Email: christianhistorical@gmail.com 📞 Phone: +91 91767 80001 🌐 Website: www.christianhistoricalsociety.in #சபையின்கதை #SabaiyinKathai #ChurchDocumentary #ChristianHistoricalSociety #YahwehMedia #ChurchHistory #DocumentaryFilm #ChristianFilmmaking #ChristianMediaArtist #TamilChristian #TamilMinistry #TamilGospel #ChurchStory #FilmmakingWorkshop #TamilChristianReel #ChristianCreator #MediaMinistry #GodlyContent #GodsGlory #ChristianCommunity #TamilBelievers #ChristianYouth #SurandaiEvent #RegisterNow #DigitalMinistry #christianmediaartist #CMA

THE ORIGINS OF EASTER (Google Docs file link provided in comments and at the end for easy navigation of clickable Bible citations) Before we explore the “Origins of Easter”, let's briefly highlight what Christians ought to be celebrating in this season. In other words, let's clearly state what this season is all about. In summary, it is about God expressing His Love by sending His Son to die and pay for the sins of the world; and then three days after His death He was raised to life, i.e. resurrected; and this mission of redemption was patterned after the Passover, when God redeemed the Israelites from the land of slavery, Egypt. In other words, Jesus Christ came to FULFILL the Passover, which was why He had to be crucified on the day of the Passover. I'll briefly highlight the Scriptures to support these assertions: John 3:16 [16] For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall NOT perish but have eternal life. NIV John 1:29 [29] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world! NIV 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 [7] Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, OUR PASSOVER LAMB, has been sacrificed. [8] THEREFORE LET US KEEP THE FESTIVAL, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. NIV Speaking of Passover, the first day of Passover on 14 Nisan, 5786 (Lev 23:5), begins at sunset on March 31st and ends at sunset on April 1st, 2026, on the Gregorian calendar, which is today at the time of writing this. So in Hebrew I say to you, “Chag Pesach Sameach”, meaning “Happy Passover”. As Paul mentioned in the Passage above, Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb has already been sacrificed, so we can now KEEP the Festival from a new perspective (paraphrasing). Besides that, Jesus Christ inaugurated the Lord's Supper on Passover and commanded us to take Communion in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:15, 19-20), so it is also appropriate on this Passover day to KEEP the Festival by taking Communion and pondering the Lord's Passion, which affords us forgiveness and deliverance from the captivity of sin and death (1 Cor 11:24-26, Heb 2:14-15) As I do not want to stray too far from the topic I seek to address, I would like to refer you to some other posts and Free resources that adequately address what I've said in the paragraph preceding the quoted Passages above, with links provided at the end. With respect to Jesus Christ FULFILLING the Passover and the other Biblical Festivals, with particular attention to details, get the book “The Biblical Festivals of God”; and I strongly recommend reading the post, “Jesus Christ The Passover Lamb”, especially after we're done with the current post; and you could also check out the post, “How Can Jesus Pay for The Sins of Others”. The HEART of the PASSion Week was PASSover, pun intended. Interestingly, the Passover, which originated in the Old Testament, was combined with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and this was a week-long festival (Lev 23:5-8, 2 Chron 35:16-19, Ezek 45:21). So it is quite interesting that we also refer to the period of Jesus’ Crucifixion and Resurrection as the Passion Week, counting from the Triumphant Entry to Jerusalem. With regards to the Passover, Jesus Christ instituted the Lord's Supper on the Passover (Mark 14:12, 22-24); and He was crucified on the Passover (John 19:14 TPT). In the post, “Jesus Christ The Passover Lamb,” using Scripture, the Biblical reckoning of a day as being sunset to sunset, and the Jewish sects in Jesus’ day, it was demonstrated how plausible it was for the Lord's Supper and crucifixion to have occurred on the Passover as described by the Gospel accounts. The point I want to make however, is that the theme of the Passion Week was the Passover; and the festival of the Passover has its origins deeply rooted in Scripture, both the Old and New Testaments. The topic at hand however, is to deduce the origins of what Christians have come to celebrate as “Easter”. Unlike Passover, “Easter” has another origin story that most Christians are unaware of, or apathetic to; and its story is NOT rooted in Scripture, but rather in history and tradition. It is an uncomfortable truth from Church history, but a truth that needs to be addressed. There is no question about it, we as Christians are expected to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, because Jesus Christ commanded it (Luke 22:19-20, 1 Cor 11:23-26). But there was a controversy in the 2nd century Church referred to as the “Quartodeciman controversy,” about when to commemorate Jesus’s death and Resurrection. “Quartodeciman” comes from the Latin “quartodecimus”, meaning “fourteenth.” It refers to Christians who celebrated the event on the 14th day of the Jewish month Nisan—the same time as the Passover, regardless of the day of the week (Lev 23:5). The Quartodecimans were mainly in Asia Minor (Eastern Church). And in Polycrates of Ephesus letter defending the Quartodecimans (referenced from the Church historian Eusebius of Caesarea), he claimed that the observance of Nisan 14 followed the Apostolic tradition passed down by Apostle Philip and John, both of whom were Jesus’s disciples. On the other hand, the Roman and Western Church always celebrated on the Sunday after Passover. Their emphasis was focused on Sunday, the first day of the week, because that was when Jesus Christ was first seen after His resurrection (Mark 16:9 TPT). Victor I, Bishop of Rome from 189-199AD, tried to excommunicate churches in Asia Minor for keeping Nisan 14, but like I said Polycrates of Ephesus defended the Quartodeciman practice in his letter to Victor I, saying they followed apostolic tradition. Furthermore, Irenaeus urged Victor I not to cut off whole churches since previous Bishops of Rome disagreed on the same matter but remained in peace. His position was that of tolerance and unity in the face of differences, a position confirmed by Scripture in matters that are not fundamental in the faith (Phil 3:15-16 NKJV). In the 4th century, Constantine convened the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, and this Quartodeciman controversy was part of the controversies that were addressed in that meeting. This time however, the idea of tolerance, or the fact that the Quartodecimans were following the Apostolic traditions, did not matter, all that mattered was trying to forge uniformity and distance the Church from anything Jewish. It can be deduced from Constantine's letter, that in the subject of “Easter” antisemitism was a deciding factor. Not only did he say vile things against the Jews, but he also argued that Christianity shouldn't have anything in common with the Jews, including the Passover. [note - emphasis through capitalization added by me] ... “AT this meeting the question concerning the most holy day of EASTER WAS DISCUSSED, and it was resolved by the united judgment of all present, that this feast ought to be kept by all and in every place on one and the same day. ... And first of all, it appeared an UNWORTHY thing that in the celebration of this most holy feast we should follow THE PRACTICE OF THE JEWS, who have impiously defiled their hands with enormous sin, and are, therefore, deservedly afflicted with blindness of soul. For we have it in our power, if we ABANDON THEIR CUSTOM, to prolong the due observance of this ordinance to future ages, by a truer order, which we have preserved from the very day of the passion until the present time. LET US THEN HAVE NOTHING IN COMMON WITH THE DETESTABLE JEWISH CROWD; for we have received from our Saviour a DIFFERENT WAY. … Note that even though the Jews were the ones practicing and celebrating Passover, it wasn't they that originated the Feast, it was God Himself; and Scripture refers to the festivals as “APPOINTED FESTIVALS OF THE LORD”, not Jewish festivals (Lev 23:1-2). So Constantine was wrong on this point of trying to distance the Church from the Jews (John 4:20-22, Rom 9:4-5), and also by regarding the Biblical Festival of Passover as a “Jewish custom”. Secondly, did Jesus Christ come to introduce such a “different way” that required the changing of the date on which He instituted Communion, and commanded us to do it in remembrance of Him? I don't think so. It is the antichrist's job to alter established Biblical dates, NOT Jesus Christ (Dan 7:25-26, 1 John 2:18-19). Just a reminder, Passover was to be celebrated on the 14th day of the first month, Aviv, aka Nisan (Lev 23:5). So the date CHOSEN to celebrate “Easter” was to be the first Sunday after the full moon, following the Spring Equinox. This was to divorce the Church from any connection to the Jewish calendar or the Biblical festival of Passover. So you can see that the foundational idea of “Easter” was to disconnect the Church from the Biblical Passover, so how is it that people still argue that “Easter” is Biblical? You may want it to be so, but its origins tell a different story, Constantine did NOT want the Church to have anything in common with the Jews, even at the expense of rejecting the Passover and weekly Sabbath. I'm not even going to waste any time dwelling on the name itself, “Easter,” which has connections to the pagan goddess “Ishtar” or “Ēostre”, same false deity with different names depending on the culture; or the fact that the symbols of this pagan goddess also match the symbols of “Easter”, speaking of the “Easter bunny” (a rodent), and “Easter eggs”, which have NO positive connection to Scripture. I mean the rabbit, Biblically speaking, is considered an unclean animal (Lev 11:6-8); Yet, for some reason, it is the mascot of the most sacred season of Christianity. Anything symbolizing a religion or religious activity must carry deep spiritual meanings related to that faith or practice. So, the question is: what are the deep spiritual connotations of the words “Easter,” the “Easter bunny,” or “Easter egg” in relation to Scripture and the Lord's Crucifixion and Resurrection? I'll say it again, apart from the theme of Jesus’s death and Resurrection, “Easter” has no connection to Scripture, it is man-made in everything else. It is quite a cocktail and mystery to me that everything else can be bad, except for one ingredient, but we're still willing to gulp it without asking any questions. I don't think God is okay with this kind of compromise and complacency, please carefully study Jesus’ letters to the churches in Revelation 2&3 (Rev 2:2-5, 14-16, 20-23, 3:1-3, 15-19). Think about it for a moment, hatred for a people group was an applauded reason that shaped the formation of a doctrine, NOT Scripture (2 Tim 3:16). God’s Word and the prophetic significance of Passover was set aside, because of the blind hatred of a people group by some persons. Moreover, we need to HONESTLY ask if there is room for such hatred in Christianity, given that Jesus Christ commanded us to Love our enemies and do good even to those who hate us (Luke 6:27-28, Matt 5:44-46, Rom 12:17, 20-21)? Also remember that Jesus Christ Himself forgave everyone involved in His crucifixion—including the Romans, among whom Constantine was later a Roman emperor (Luke 23:34, read also Acts 7:59-60). If—despite there being NO VALID Reason—Christians were to choose to HATE the Jews and everything associated with them, then, for the sake of consistency, they would also have to HATE the Romans and everything associated with Rome. After all, it was the Roman governor who held the authority to crucify Jesus Christ, and who ultimately ordered His scourging and crucifixion (John 18:31, 19:1-6, 10). So the hypocrisy is obvious if we're being honest. Also let's not forget that Jesus Christ and the early Apostles were ALL Jews. So hatred of the Jews is unjustifiable (Matt 25:40, Rom 15:26-27, Gal 6:6). It's already NOT looking good for the origin of “Easter”, but let's see if its unifying effort is justified. Some might argue that the controversy surrounding the subject threatened the unity of the Church, just as we saw Victor I trying to excommunicate certain churches. So they say for this reason “Easter” was a necessity to “unite” the Church. It is evident that during the lifetime of the Apostles, controversies did arise that threatened the Church; however, they were resolved in a manner fundamentally different from the process that later gave rise to what is now called “Easter”. Scripture was central in the Early Church for resolving controversies, as the Apostles appealed to the Word of God to establish truth and bring unity (2 Tim 3:16–17, Eph 4:11-16). For instance, it was highlighted in previous posts how the Council at Jerusalem resolved the circumcision issue, where proponents of circumcision tried to make it a necessity for salvation (Acts 15:1). Granted, Peter, Paul, and Barnabas argued vigorously against that idea (Acts 15:2-12), but the final decision was pinned on Scripture and the approval of the Holy Spirit (Acts 15:13-18, 28, Amos 9:11-12 NKJV). Again, there was the controversy of some people saying that the final resurrection had occurred (2 Tim 2:16-18). Even though there is no Biblical reference to a Church Council to address this controversy, Paul adequately dealt with it in his letters, addressing the false teachers and the subject of resurrection (1 Tim 1:20, 1 Cor 15:12, 35, 1 Thess 4:13-18). In his letter to the Thessalonians, he highlighted a key end-time event that must occur before the coming of Jesus Christ and the final resurrection (2 Thess 2:1-4). This referenced event of the antichrist desecrating the Temple and claiming to be God can be pinned to Scripture, specifically the prophecies of Daniel (Daniel 7:11, 26, 9:27, 11:31, 12:11), which Jesus Christ also referenced when He prophesied about the end-times (Matt 24:15). I'll also attach a two-part series titled, “Biblical Ciphers and Codes”, where part two covers a bunch of important things pertaining to the end-times. Controversies come and go, and at times divisions may be necessary (1 John 2:18-19, 1 Cor 11:19). The Apostles NEVER advocated unity at all costs, especially at the compromise of Truth (2 John 1:9-11, Rom 16:17-18, 1 Cor 5:11-13, 2 Cor 6:14-17, 2 Tim 3:1-5, 2 Thess 3:6, 14-15, Titus 3:10-11). So the appeal to foster “unity” is NOT sufficient justification to establish “Easter”, especially when doing so abrogates the Word of God and the commands of Jesus Christ. The fact is that the Church would always be faced with one controversy or the other, because the devil is actively fighting against Her (Eph 6:10-13, Rev 12:11-12, 17, 2:14-16, 24-25). There will be people inspired by demonic spirits propagating lies and confusion that CANNOT be anchored on Scripture, yet their ideas would be alluring (1 Tim 4:1-3, Matt 24:24-25). NOT IF, but WHEN we face such a situation, should we adopt the “Easter” model where we try by all means to accommodate or “unite” the Church as best we can at the expense of the Truth of Scripture, or would we stand by the Truth and uphold what Scripture says? I can tell you that the former is easy, comfortable, and WRONG, but the latter is harder, uncomfortable, but RIGHT. Siding with the crowd is easy and comfortable, but God calls us to side with the Truth, even when it goes against the crowd or political correctness (Ex 23:2-3, Lev 19:15). UNITY in the Church CANNOT be forged on man-made compromises. Rather, UNITY in the Church MUST be forged by the Spirit, on the premise of God's Word (Eph 4:3-6, 11-16, Phil 2:1-2, Rom 15:5-6, 1 Cor 1:10). Note that the “oneness of mind” being referred to in the cited Passages is NOT merely a matter of adopting a shared human consensus, but of embracing the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit (**1 Cor 2:10-12, 16**, Gal 4:6). In other words, a group of people may reach agreement and share a single mind on a matter, but if their thinking is NOT aligned with the mind of Christ as revealed in Scripture and through the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 2:16), then they CANNOT be truly united in Christ, even though they appear to have one mind. Unity in the Church requires that our minds be transformed (Rom 12:2), and this transformation is an essential part of our conformation to Christ (Rom 8:29, Gal 4:19, John 17:22-23, 26). We as humans must be honest and humble enough to admit that our thoughts are NOT ALWAYS best, even when our intentions are good (Prov 16:1-5, 25, 3:5-7, Isaiah 55:8–9). Therefore, it is impractical to establish lasting UNITY based on our own reasoning, or the adopted views of others. True and enduring UNITY—regardless of our differences and proclivities—can ONLY be achieved in God by adopting the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit, thereby gaining God’s perspective (Isaiah 30:1, 1 Cor 2:10-12, 16, John 17:20-23, 26). In other words, unity should NOT be forged on the ideas and philosophies of men, but rather by the Spirit of Christ and His direction, as revealed in Scripture (Matt 28:19-20, John 16:13-15, 2 Peter 1:20-21). After all, it is the Church of Christ–NOT the church of man–therefore it stands to reason that the thoughts of Christ should shape and govern His Church. Paul played a crucial role in teaching the doctrines that guide the Church today (Eph 3:2-12, 1 Cor 2:1-5, 13-14), yet he understood that the focus must NOT be on himself or other leaders (1 Cor 1:12-13). This was reinforced in his own life to guard him against pride (2 Cor 12:6-10); and he taught that church leaders are merely servants, while God alone gives the growth (1 Cor 3:3-11, 21-23, 4:6-7). For this reason, he placed no confidence in himself, even while serving with sincerity (1 Cor 4:1-4, 2 Cor 1:12, 3:5). He also upheld the truth above himself, so that even in the unlikely event of his failure, others would not be led astray (Gal 1:8-9, 1 Cor 9:27). The point is that UNITY in the Church should NOT be founded on people, but SOLELY on the Person of Jesus Christ (Eph 4:13, 15-16, 1:22-23). The doctrines of men must NEVER supercede the doctrine of Christ. I have emphasized that in addressing controversies, it is essential to remain anchored in Scripture. I will now apply that same standard to demonstrate why the origin of “Easter” is unsound. Interestingly, a situation very similar to the “Easter” issue occurred in Scripture, I'm talking about the: redesignation of a God-instituted festival in favor of a man-made festival on a different date, while still claiming it was the same festival God had commanded. After Solomon’s reign, the nation of Israel divided into two kingdoms: Judah, with its capital in Jerusalem, and Israel, with its capital in Samaria. From the time of Moses, God had instructed that He would select a specific place in the Promised Land where all their sacrifices were to be brought (Deut 12:5, 11). No one was to offer sacrifices to God wherever they pleased, even if they lived far from the place God would choose. Those living at a distance were instructed to sell their produce, bring the money to the chosen place, and use it to buy what was required for their offerings (Deut 12:13-14, 14:24–26⁠). There was no exception. In the time of David, God chose Jerusalem as that place, and Solomon was commissioned to build the Temple there (2 Sam 7:12–13, 1 Kings 5:5, 6:37-38). When the kingdom split, Jeroboam, king of Israel, thought to himself that if he allowed the people to continue going to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple, they might return their allegiance to the king of Judah (1 Kings 12:26–27). So he decided to fashion two idols and present them as the same God who had brought the Israelites out of Egypt (1 Kings 12:28–30). So we see that he essentially “rebranded” God (1 Kings 12:28, Ex 20:2-5). Not only that, but in the name of convenience, he convinced the people that they could offer sacrifices to God anywhere (1 Kings 12:31, Deut 12:2-6). Those who knew Scripture, especially the Levites, recognized his lies and contradictions to God’s Word, so they did NOT stay but went to Jerusalem (2 Chron 11:13-16), while the majority of the people remained. Lastly, the king of Israel CHOSE his own date to mimic the Feast of Tabernacles (1 Kings 12:32–33, Lev 23:34-36, 39-42), so that those in his domain would not have to go to Jerusalem, since it was one of the three Festivals that required all Israel to gather there (Deut 16:16). His reason for doing all of this was to maintain “unity” in his kingdom. Sound familiar? Leviticus 23:34 [34] “Say to the Israelites: ‘On the FIFTEENTH DAY of the SEVENTH MONTH the Lord’s Festival of Tabernacles begins, and it lasts for seven days. NIV 1 Kings 12:32-33 [32] He instituted a festival on the FIFTEENTH DAY of the EIGHTH MONTH, LIKE the festival held in Judah… [33] On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, A MONTH OF HIS OWN CHOOSING, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites… NIV So in essence, Jeroboam addressed the “unity” issue by disregarding God’s Word and commands; by setting his own terms of worship—changing dates and making things “convenient” for the people; yet, in this cocktail mix of man-made definitions, he still claimed that it was the SAME God of Israel being worshipped, and that his festival was no different from the one in Jerusalem. The sin of Jeroboam plagued every generation of the kings of Israel after him. And after all those years, when God pronounced judgment against the kingdom of Israel (headquartered in Samaria), He declared that the people would mourn the removal of the very idols Jeroboam had made (Hosea 10:5-8). Consider that: they had become so attached to those false gods that losing them brought grief. In other words, they had embraced the lie so deeply that they were unwilling to let it go. It is quite striking when we consider their behavior and how they were able to follow the lie of Jeroboam for centuries. Yet it is not so surprising when we realize that we are no different when it comes to the “Easter” issue. Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9). In comparison, the same appeal to “unity” was used as the basis for “Easter.” God’s appointed date of Nisan 14 was set aside, and the Passover disregarded, in favor of a “newly” defined observance with its own date. Yet, despite these changes, it is still claimed that “Good Friday” conveys the same meaning as the crucifixion of Jesus, which occurred at Passover (John 19:14 TPT). In reality, the entire sequence of the Passion, culminating in the resurrection, begins from the reference point of the Passover. “Easter,” on the other hand, fixes its focus on Sunday and works backward, without any real connection to Passover. If the reference point of Passover is removed, then—like Jeroboam—it CANNOT be claimed that it is still the same festival commanded by God, which Jesus Christ came to FULFILL. Scripture EXPLICITLY identifies Christ as our Passover Lamb, showing that Passover is the true reference point (1 Cor 5:7, John 1:29). Just to be clear, it should be understood that ordinarily an individual (Rom 14:5–6), or a group of people (Esther 9:20-32, Joel 2:15-19, 2 Chron 20:3-4, 13-15), can consecrate any day to the Lord, and it would be acceptable in God’s sight. However, the problem with “Easter” is that God Himself had already consecrated a specific day and called it Passover (Exod 12:14, Lev 23:5), and on that very Passover, Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper with His disciples and commanded that it be observed in remembrance of Him (Luke 22:19–20, 1 Cor 11:23–26). Therefore, it is inappropriate for human beings to alter what God has instituted by consecrating another day and assigning it the same significance as the one God originally ordained. Jesus Christ said He came to FULFILL the Scriptures (Matt 5:17), and after His resurrection, two of His followers had the privilege of hearing Him demonstrate this directly from the Scriptures (Luke 24:25–27, 44–49). Even today, many teach from Scripture—especially the Old Testament—uncovering profound truths that point to Christ. Passover itself is one of those Scriptures pointing to Him; therefore, it CANNOT be set aside, along with its rich prophetic significance, in order to embrace “Easter,” whose origin is NOT rooted in Scripture, but rather in a misguided attempt to foster “unity,” while at the same time expressing hostility toward the Jews. Yet Scripture makes it clear that Jesus Christ came to UNITE both Jew and Gentile as ONE (1 John 4:20-21, Isaiah 49:5-6, [John 10:14-16, Acts 2:38-39], Rom 11:1-2, 11-29, Eph 2:14–22, Gal 3:26-29). I've skipped several details, but I believe it is clear enough to see that the origin of “Easter” is NOT Biblical. While it may feel comfortable to keep, it rests on man-made foundations, which are certain to collapse (Ps 127:1-2, Matt 7:24–27). Its name, symbols, and the reasons for its creation form a house of cards that will surely fall. God Himself uproots whatever He has not planted (Gen 11:3-9, Matt 15:13, Heb 12:26-27). And you may be wondering why God hasn’t taken decisive action concerning this, seeing that it has continued for so long. Perhaps it is because He is merciful, giving people an opportunity to repent (2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-9). In the past, people have often assumed that God’s apparent silence on a matter meant what they did was acceptable in His sight (Ps 73:1-28, 94:7-15, 50:16-23, Isaiah 42:14, 57:10-13, **Jer 44:15-28**). But that is not the case—God always sends warnings before judgment (Amos 3:7, 2 Chron 36:15-16). I believe He is sending a warning to the Church now, because judgment will come upon ALL, and it must begin with the Church before extending to the world (1 Peter 4:17-18). I know this may be an uncomfortable truth, and I can relate to the discomfort I felt when the Holy Spirit first brought it to my attention, particularly through the writing of “Early Steps in Christianity” (first and second editions). In fact, the main updates in the second edition focused on Chapter Six, which covers Communion—the Lord’s Supper. I have openly acknowledged the challenge this revelation brought, and the journey of repentance it has led me on personally. Yet I cannot fully express the peace, joy, and comfort I have received from the Lord as a result, which reassures me that this is indeed the right path. What I’ve presented in this study may be troubling to some. Please know that it is not my intention to cause distress, but if this is what it takes to bring the truth to you, then it will be worth it in the end (2 Cor 7:8–10). For others, it may take time to fully embrace what I’ve shared, but I trust God to make things clear as we continue to hold fast to the fundamental truths of Scripture (Phil 3:15–16). All I ask is that you reflect on this, pray about it, and remain open to hear from God on the matter. I also pray that He grants you the grace to act on what He reveals. That said, I hope you are awakened to the Passover and come to understand its New Testament significance. Once again, I encourage you to access the FREE book, “The Biblical Festivals of God”, and go through the two-part series, which I have combined into a single document titled “Jesus Christ the Passover Lamb”. Thank you for the privilege of your time. I hope this study has been helpful. God bless you, and Shalom! Google Docs link for current post: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/THE_ORIGINS_OF_EASTER/ Full Series of “JESUS CHRIST THE PASSOVER LAMB”: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/JESUS_CHRIST_THE_PASSOVER_LAMB-FULL_SERIES/ Other posts you might be interested in: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/HOW_CAN_JESUS_PAY_FOR_THE_SINS_OF_OTHERS/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/THE_OLD_TESTAMENT_IS_THE_SHADOW_OF_THE_NEW_COVENANT/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/What_Paul_Meant_by-The_Law_of_Sin_and_Death-Rom_7and8/ For the Free PDF of "Early Steps in Christianity" (E.S.C): https://selar.com/EarlyStepsInChristianity For Paperback or Hardcover copies: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKW4H91N For the Free PDF of "The Biblical Festivals of God" (TBFG): https://selar.com/TheBiblicalFestivalsOfGod For Paperback copies: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKPP5N6J Follow-up Post to the book, TBFG: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/BIBLICAL_CIPHERS_AND_CODES-FULL_SERIES/ I'd like to also encourage you to go through the following resources: https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/TO_BE_LIKE_JESUS_FULL_SERIES/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/The_Premise_of_Christianity/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/Jesus_The_Redeemer/ https://daniel-olatunji-publications.netlify.app/Building_on_Legacy/ #Jesus #JesusChrist #Theology #Christianity #BibleStudyWithDanielOlatunji #BibleStudy #TheBible #Scripture #TheLivingWord #Truth #Free #FreeBooks #EarlyStepsInChristianity #TheBiblicalFestivalsOfGod #Passover #Easter #ChurchHistory #Repent #Repentance #Obedience

✝️ One Body, One Savior ✝️ 📖 “For just as the body is one and has many members… so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12) In the early centuries after Jesus Christ, the Church was one, known as “Catholic,” meaning a universal church for all. But over time, because of human weakness, politics, and differences in belief, the Church became divided. ✝️ 1054 – The Great Schism: The first major division took place: In the West, the Roman Catholic Church (under the leadership of the Pope in Rome) continued. In the East, the Eastern Orthodox Church separated, as they did not accept the authority of the Pope. ✝️ 1517 – The Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther raised his voice against corruption and false traditions in the Church, calling people back to the truth of the Bible. As a result, more new churches separated from the Roman Catholic Church, including: Lutheran Reformed (Calvinist) Anglican Methodist Baptist and later, Pentecostal and Evangelical movements 📌 Today, the Christian world has three main groups: 1. Roman Catholic Church – the largest, with more than 1.3 billion members, notable for education, service, and global influence. 2. Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches – strong in tradition, worship, and ancient beliefs. 3. Protestant Churches – thousands of denominations, serving and ministering in different countries. Though denominations exist, Christ is not divided. The Church may have different forms, but the Cross is one. The Savior is only and only Jesus Christ. Today, the most powerful ministry is happening where the truth of the Bible, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the preaching of the Gospel are emphasized. 💡 Remember: Denominations are made by humans, but salvation is only in Jesus Christ. The world may see us in different groups, but God sees us as one body — and the head of that body is only Jesus Christ. 🙏 Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, unite us not in denominations but under the shadow of Your Cross. By the power of the Holy Spirit, keep us firm in the truth, so that we may be living witnesses before the world. Amen.” 🔖 Hashtags: #JesusChrist #ChristianUnity #ChurchHistory #Christian #Bible #Cross

Discover the compelling life of Reverend Jonathan Burr, a Puritan minister who left his native England in the 17th century to find religious freedom in the New World. Born in 1604, Burr was an educated and devout man who became a respected pastor in Dorchester, Massachusetts, during a pivotal time in American history. https://youtu.be/wfmjfklVutA This video explores: * His early life and education in England. * Why he was "silenced" by the Church of England, leading him to seek refuge in the Puritan Great Migration. * His influential role as a pastor in the Dorchester community. * His lasting legacy and his connection to the foundational history of the United States. Join us as we delve into the life of a man who shaped the spiritual and social fabric of early colonial America. #JonathanBurr #PuritanHistory #ColonialAmerica #ChurchHistory #ReverendBurr #Dorchester #GreatMigration #PuritanPastor #AmericanHistory #ReligiousFreedom Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content on the New Testament and early Christian history! https://www.patrickryanlewis.com/ https://www.facebook.com/PatrickRLewis https://lordsbook.com/aguyandhisbible allthingsforHim.pl@gmail.com Amazon Wishlist https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/AAQACSNG7QKZ?ref_=wl_share Amazon Storefront https://amzn.to/4gFUxsO Donate Paypal https://bit.ly/3TMgPRa Venmo / CashApp - PatrickRyanLewis

It started with "other religions." Early church leaders welcomed the pagans - which is biblical - but they also welcomed the pagan traditions - which is definitely NOT biblical. We were told that we had to be tolerant of other religions, even if they did not honor Yehovah, or had doctrine that was not biblical. We were told we couldn't "judge" other religions that are not biblical. We were told that we had to be tolerant of the philosophical beliefs and practices of others - even unbiblical ones - because one day it might be us. It didn't stop there, though. Once the world got its foot in the door, it muscled its way right on in. Now we are told that we MUST be tolerant of all forms of worldliness and sin - things that scripture, that YEHOVAH, calls an abomination. It started with a top on the door and manipulation of our emotions. Now it has become a festering sore on the church that is drawing Christians farther and farther into the world and farther and farther away from Yehovah. This is NOT what scripture teaches. Throughout the Bible we are told, no, COMMANDED, to "Be holy as Yehovah is holy." Tolerance of things that offend Yehovah and violate scripture are NOT biblical. Tolerance of things that offend Yehovah and violate scripture are NOT holy. Seek ye first the Kingdom of Yehovah (Matthew 6:33). Shalom Stephanie Marshall Mayberry ------------------------------------ #Tolerance #SeekYeFirstTheKingdomOfGod #SeekGodFirst #Tradition #ChurchHistory #TheChurch #BibleTruth

https://youtu.be/Wc4CwOA0BNs Ezekiel Chapters 28-29: Sermon Pastor Hugh Dusza Ali'i Baptist Church, Ewa Beach, O'ahu, Hawai'i #believers #endtimes #churchhistory #prophecy #revelation #truth